Resources

The State of Obesity Report Series (2014- )

After decades of increasing, the national childhood obesity rate has leveled off and the rise in obesity among adults is beginning to slow. This is progress, but rates are alarmingly higher than they were a generation ago as demonstrated by this report, which looks at data over the past 25 years

The obesity epidemic remains one of the nation's most serious health crises — putting millions of Americans at increased risk for a range of chronic diseases and costing the country billions of dollars in preventable healthcare spending.

After 10 years of "F as in Fat," we are excited to unveil a new name for this report: "The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America." Why? Well quite simply, we believe the "F" no longer stands for failure.

F as in Fat Report Series (2004-2013)

Each year, the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) issue F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future to examine strategies for addressing the obesity crisis. In this 10th edition of the report, TFAH and RWJF included annual rates and rankings of adult obesity and obesity rate trends by region, age, gender, education and income.

The future health of the United States is at a crossroads, due in large part to the obesity epidemic. Each year, the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) issue F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future to examine strategies for addressing the obesity crisis. In this ninth edition of the report, TFAH and RWJF also commissioned a new study to look at how obesity could impact the future health and wealth of our nation.

Adult obesity rates increased in 16 states in the past year and did not decline in any state, according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America''s Future 2011, a report from the Trust for America''s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Twelve states now have obesity rates above 30 percent. Four years ago, only one state was above 30 percent.

Adult obesity rates increased in 28 states in the past year, and declined only in the District of Columbia, according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2010, a report from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. More than two-thirds of states (38) have adult obesity rates above 25 percent. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent. The report also highlights troubling racial, ethnic, regional and income disparities in the nation's obesity epidemic.

Adult obesity rates increased in 23 states and did not decrease in a single state in the past year, according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009, a report released today by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). In addition, the percentage of obese or overweight children is at or above 30 percent in 30 states.

In this report, TFAH and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) conclude that adult obesity rates increased in 37 states in the past year. The report calls for the creation of a National Strategy to Combat Obesity and includes state-by-state data.

The fourth annual edition of the F as in Fat report explores current policy weaknesses in the fight against obesity and recommends changes that must be considered to address the obesity crisis nationwide. This installment has a special focus on the role of physical activity.

The third annual edition of this report concludes that adult obesity rates continued to rise in 31 states, while government policy efforts have consistently failed to provide viable solutions. It offers a 20-step action plan for stakeholders to address the obesity epidemic's health burden and financial costs.

The second annual edition of this report concludes that national and state policies are falling far short of obesity prevention and reduction goals. It finds that the U.S. does not have the aggressive, coordinated national and state strategies needed to address the crisis -- threatening to make the epidemic worse.

The first edition of the F as in Fat report states that Nearly 119 million American adults, 65 percent of the population, were overweight or obese in 2004. TFAH breaks down the rate of obesity for each state, as well as the obesity-related costs per-person. Data is included on the rates of disease associated with obesity in all 50 states and Washington, DC.